Updated Wed. May. 28 2008 8:17 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in a speech at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Wednesday, praised Canada for going to great lengths to protect the environment.
The conference, in Bonn, Germany, is focused on the battle to protect species and their habitat around the world.
“As the heirs to this natural endowment, we understand that it is merely on loan, passed onto us from previous generations to safeguard for the generations yet to come,” said Harper.
“Canada has gone to great lengths to protect and preserve our rich and diverse environment, and in our country this is not just a government enterprise. We are partnered with many private individuals, corporations and non-governmental organizations dedicated to environmental philanthropy.”
Harper touted Canada’s achievements in conserving more than 200,000 hectares of ecologically significant lands in Canada.
He also said Canada has protected three million hectares of ocean waters and 10 per cent of its land mass — an area greater than the size of France and Germany combined.
“These large protected areas include famous national parks like Banff, Fundy, Gros Morne, and Nahanni, of which our government announced a significant expansion last summer,” said Harper.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke at the conference and, like Harper, was presented with an award recognizing her nation’s contribution to the protection of biodiversity.
Merkel told the conference she had promised US$788 million to combat deforestation between 2009-2012, with a further US788 million available every year thereafter.
Harper also used the forum to push Canada’s strategy to combat climate change.
“We have vowed to get past the empty rhetoric and to take real action to require Canadian industry to make real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
CTV’s Roger Smith said Harper’s talk about getting past the “empty rhetoric” appeared to be a shot at some of the European leaders is meeting with on his tour.

ctv.ca

This interview appeared in Financial Times on February 15, 2006.
Financial Times: How much resource does Microsoft put into security?
Bill Gates: Security is our top priority. I can’t see that changing any time soon.
FT: More important than hitting the Vista deadline? [Windows Vista, the next version of Windows, is due to be launched late this year.]
BG: Oh, absolutely. Believe me, Vista would have been out nine months ago if we hadn’t had to do all the security design reviews and put the security features in. XP SP2 [the security update to the previous version of Windows] was a huge effort, when we took the people off Vista.
There is no doubt we have put our money where our statements are on this. We would have had a release of Windows out way earlier if it wasn’t for this focus on security. Even today, the date is not the sacrosanct thing. It is the feedback from the users, and the experience we have with this thing.
The tabular content relating to this article is not available to view. Apologies in advance for the inconvenience caused.
FT: After the big push on security around XP SP2, has it now become business as usual at Microsoft?
BG: In the sense that we know how to factor that into our schedules, yes. But it’s still the biggest thing in any development schedule. The amount of security work as you move up the stack gets to be less and less. But Windows is down here low in the stack, and so that’s where the most work is. That’s where smart cards have to connect up to, code reputation has to connect up to, the whole security centre that makes it easy to say what your security update is, that’s down here.
For any Windows schedule in the future there will always be that security work. So no, it’s not business as usual. But hey, this is software, and security is the most important feature of software. After all, digital usage of critical information goes up every year. What was adequate a few years ago is no longer adequate. People are relying on these systems more and more.

inhome.rediff.com

“MARIO beat me up, says ex-lover,” says the Sun. “Big Brother’s Mario is a violent bully with a vicious temper,” says Denise Bailey, “now happily married with three children.”
Says Denise: “I want people to know the truth — that he is a very nasty person who does not deserve fame and celebrity status. He is jealous, obsessive and violent. I think in 13 weeks on Big Brother, his true colours will show.”
Denise is not bitter nor obsessive, just keen to tell Sun readers that 20 years ago Mario, nee Shaun Astbury, aka the “BBEAST” is a complete swine who gave her a busted lip, black eye and punched her in the stomach.
Says Denise, who lives on “an exclusive estate near Premiership soccer players”: “I am not saying this for financial gain but to tell people what he is really like. I am not scared of him any more.”
Mario has appeared on BBC2’s Kitchen Criminals, Brits Behind Bars and Ant and Dec on Saturday Night Takeaway.
sounds like an ex with a grudge!
He might have been like that with you…. doesnt mean he will always be like that! Maybe you brought out the worst in him?
I dont like him at all. He is using Mikey’s disability to his advantage, trying to make out that he is this friendly helpful person.
He is a leach. He doesn’t have enough personality of his own, so he is stuck to Mikey.
The antics of him and Lisa in the diary room were a pathetic attempt to look fun and cool, they looked like animals, and what is with the fake laugh.
BB should be taking genuine contestants, not people who have been on telly before. He is boring to watch. I think he is trying to be Top Dog, i would laugh my backside off if he got evicted on friday. Fingers crossed

anorak.co.uk

Well, there

While Turkey have definitely defied the odds and done so with some skilful and creative football, their passage to the semi-finals of Euro 2008 on the other side of the draw cannot quite be compared to that of fellow underdogs Russia, particularly in light of their quarterfinal win over tournament favourites the Netherlands yesterday evening.
Marco van Basten’s men were without doubt the form team of the tournament, having obliterated world champions Italy 3-0 in their opening game and, as if to prove it wasn’t dumb luck, trounced France 4-1 a matter of days later. Even once the world was wise to their tactics and they fielded a second string against a disciplined Romania side fighting for qualification, they eventually broke them down to emerge 2-0 winners. Their defence has looked shaky - they will always give you a chance - but always looked like taking more of their own.
They were missing the presence of Arjen Robben yesterday, who was enjoying yet another routine injury, and Marco van Basten’s decision to remove one of his central midfielders did not bear the fruit of fortune it did against France, as it only succeeded in allowing Russia to dictate the game. No question, they could have done things better - last night served to underline van Basten’s flaws as a coach and the players’ flaws in certain areas but, above all, Russia’s prodigious dynamism and overall strength as a team.
Russia have been universally recognised as the better side on the night - but this wasn’t such a major shock - as tactically, they looked second only to the Dutch going into the game, and have now without doubt superceded them and look like the most dangerous collective left in the tournament. They may have capitulated on opening day against Spain, but that was without star man Andrei Arshavin, and they were caught by a Spanish side that hit its peak - possibly far too early - and were simply outclassed.

goal.com

“Hannah Montana” co-star Mitchel Musso isn’t having a good day.
“I had the worst night of my life last night,” he says in a way that only 16-year-olds can dramatize so well.
His flight to his native Texas was delayed for hours. Musso was bumped to another flight, but he still ended up spending the night at the airport. He was uncomfortable, hungry and ready to get home.
On top of it all, his luggage was lost. Then, on the ride to a friend’s house, he’s pulled over by a policeman.
As he’s explaining that situation, his cell phone loses connection during this interview. His publicity handler quickly gets him reconnected.
“I’m telling you! Everything is going wrong!” he says mockingly.
Other than these inconveniences, Musso can’t complain much. He’s part of the hottest show on the planet with Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana.” On Saturday, he’ll be meeting fans at the AdventureCon pop culture show at the Knoxville Convention Center.
When he isn’t working on “Hannah Montana,” in which he plays the title character’s best guy pal, Oliver, he’s making music around the country and working on the feature film version of “Hannah Montana,” now shooting near Nashville.
As a result, Musso has encountered fame on a rare level. “How has the show changed my life? Well, in everyday ways, like with fans, going to the mall, going to the movies, pretty much going anywhere,” he says.
“I’ll be in my car, and people will follow me home. Crazy stuff like that.
“People, like, are throwing themselves at you, like, ‘I love you, blah, blah, blah.’ In the beginning, I thought it was fun and games. Now, it’s more.”
Musso got “Hannah Montana” through auditioning. He had done the Disney film “Life is Rough” and was already on the company’s radar. The series has turned out to be his big break.

knoxnews.com

You probably don’t know this, but Friday, yes this Friday, June 20, has been declared the happiest day of the year.
Who knew? Not me.
The news came in an e-mail from something called the Stress Institute. It reports that a researcher at the University of Cardiff’s Center for Lifelong Learning devised a scientific equation using a variety of physical, emotional and stress factors and came up with this Friday as the happiest day of all. At least this year.
In short, the stars aligned.
It’s the beginning of summer, we’re at the pool, reliving childhood memories of firefly nights, working in the yard and spending vacation time with loved ones.
I’m not sure I can handle this much fun at one time.
Kathleen Hall, founder of the Stress Institute, says: “Happiness is a physical state of the brain. When we’re happy, our brain produces neurochemicals that result in us wanting to eat, have sex or maybe sing.”
But all in one day?
I understand the barbecue. I understand the sex. But singing, too? It feels a bit like Christmas. Too much pressure.
And what if we’re not in the mood to cash in on the steak-sex-song trifecta Friday? Will we have missed our chance to experience ultimate happiness for another whole year?
An old friend of mine would be very suspicious of all this. He was always a bit perplexed, albeit amused, by Americans’ obsession with happiness.
For years he’d ask me why we think we’re entitled to be happy all the time. It’s not the way the world works, he’d say. People aren’t supposed to be happy all the time.
I never had an answer for him, so he’d sulk for a while, which I suspect brought him a certain amount of pleasure, if not happiness.
Coincidentally, Friday also is the 10th annual Take Your Dog to Work Day. The organizers, Pet Sitters International, hope the day will spark pet adoptions after dogless workers see what a great companion a dog is.

usatoday.com

HOUSTON — One worker was killed and seven others were injured Thursday after several cinder block walls collapsed at a dormitory that was under construction at Rice University, fire department officials said.
The collapse happened at around 4 p.m., said Houston Assistant Fire Chief Omero Longoria. Five construction workers were trapped when some of the walls that were being erected for dormitory rooms partially collapsed on the building’s second floor.
“We had to dig them out,” Longoria said.
One of those in the rubble died and four others were transported to local hospitals. Longoria said he did not immediately know the extent of the injuries of the four workers.
Three other workers received minor injuries after they tried to dig the others out of the rubble, Longoria said. They were treated at the scene.
No other victims were found underneath the rubble after additional searches were conducted by rescue workers.
“We’ve accounted for all other employees with the construction company,” Longoria said.
Rice spokesman B.J. Almond said the cause of the collapse is under investigation.
“There was a lot of severe rain and wind right when this happened,” he said.
The building, called McMurtry College, has been under construction since last year with a fall 2009 opening date set. Almond said the 324-bed residential college will be five stories tall.
Longoria said a separate investigation by the contractor and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration would try to determine an exact cause of the collapse.

abclocal.go.com

Tomatoes making comeback
McDonald’s Corp. said it would reintroduce sliced tomatoes in its U.S. restaurants over the next seven to 10 days, following the salmonella scare that continues to victimize people in several states. The first person fell ill April 10 and the last, so far as officials know, on June 5. A total of 48 people have been hospitalized.
Got more milk
U.S. milk production rose 3 percent in May after dairy farmers expanded cow herds to profit from cash prices that reached a record last year. Output increased to 16.667 billion pounds from 16.18 billion in May 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.
United Airlines and Continental Airlines Inc., the carriers that couldn’t agree on a merger in April, will form an alliance to book seats on each other’s planes and create joint ventures for overseas flights. Continental also will join United’s Star marketing alliance and seek approval to set international fares and schedules with Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Air Canada and other airlines, the carriers said Thursday.
Yahoo Inc. is introducing two new domains so users can choose names already taken on its main site. Users can start getting e-mail at ymail.com and rocketmail.com instead of just yahoo.com, the company said Thursday.
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kansascity.com

In this June 15, 2008 file photo, Tiger Woods holds on to his left knee after teeing off on the second hole during the fourth round of the US Open championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. Woods will miss the rest of the season because of a left knee that will require more surgery, a person with knowledge of the decision said Wednesday June 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
By DOUG FERGUSON – 5 hours ago
Tiger Woods’ career has been defined as much by spectacular shots as mind-boggling numbers. In just a dozen years on the PGA Tour, he already has won 65 times to rank third on the all-time list behind Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus. Woods has won 14 majors, closing on the record 18 won by Nicklaus and joining the Golden Bear as the only players to win the career Grand Slam three times over. He is 44-3 on tour when he has at least a share of the 54-hole lead.
The latest number is the most troubling — three surgeries on his left knee in five years.
Two days after a grueling U.S. Open that took him five days and 91 holes to win, Woods said Wednesday he will have reconstructive surgery on his left knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, forcing him to miss the rest of the season.
“While I am obviously disappointed to have to miss the remainder of the season, I have to do the right thing for my long-term health and look forward to returning to competitive golf when my doctors agree that my knee is sufficiently healthy,” Woods said on his Web site. “My doctors assure me with the proper rehabilitation and training, the knee will be strong and there will be no long-term effects.”

ap.google.com